13:55 Ludlow

Sunday 12 May 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Welsh Guards Association Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 5m 3.8s

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Selected odds by:

Shivermetimbers^b1⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 106

18/1

Out of form since finishing runner-up in a soft ground 2m maiden hurdle here in January last year. Drop in trip should suit having finished last of five over an extended 3m1f on handicap debut in March.

Form: 72P/005-

Spiritual Man⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 105

12/1

Dual Flat winner and placed over 1m6f in that sphere at Wolverhampton in March. Disappointed subsequently and interesting back over hurdles with a top jockey booked to ride.

Form: 26704P/

Hear The Chimes²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S A Harris| OR: 105| C| D

17/2

Course winner finished a good second in a soft ground 2m7f handicap hurdle at Haydock in March. Well beaten on quicker ground subsequently and would likely appreciate any overnight rain.

Form: 914126-

Sinakar^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 104

9/1

Returning from a break when finishing 13L third over an extended 2m4f at Huntingdon (good) last month. Stays further and cheekpieces worn for the first time that day are retained.

Form: 125/P03-

Market Road^t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 103| D

25/1

Decent effort in finishing fourth over an extended 2m3f in a handicap chase at Chepstow (good-to-soft) last month. Market support would be notable off a 1lb lower mark on first hurdles start since November.

Form: 21PF64-

Mr Fenton^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 102

22/1

11 race maiden was beaten 36L in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (good) last time out. Others make more appeal.

Form: 2278/P0-

All Good Things^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 100

20/1

Returns to hurdles having fallen in a novices' handicap chase over an extended 2m3f at Stratford (good) a month ago. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 09655F-

Kingston⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 99| D

25/1

Pulled up in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m7f at Uttoxeter (good) at the end of March. Races off a mark 1lb lower than when winning at Huntingdon (good) last November.

Form: 4U465P-

Goldrapper²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 98

6/1

Returned to form with a 1L second in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Huntingdon (good) last time out. One to note despite a 3lb rise in the weights.

Form: 580502-

Knight Commander^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: S Flook| OR: 98

10/1

Dual hurdles winner and beaten a neck over an extended 2m at Wolverhampton last time out. Market support would be notable on first hurdles start since wind surgery.

Form: 727068-

Codeshare⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 97

7/1

Beaten 29L when third in a small field 2m4f novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (heavy) in March. Given a break since and market support would be notable on handicap debut.

Form: 627/043-

Cottonvale^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: Christian Williams| OR: 97

8/1

Maiden after 25 but ran one of his better races when finishing fourth over 2m4f at Ffos Las (soft) last month.Dropped 2lb for that effort and is an interesting runner in this contest.

Form: 24F2F4-

Royale Jonquille^b1⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 95

33/1

Signs of ability in maiden hurdles late last year but struggled in handicap company on two most recent starts including at Warwick (2m3f, good) earlier this month when returning from a break.

Form: 5/5689-P

Diamond Rose²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: M D Grant| T: J S Smith| OR: 91

40/1

Well beaten 35L eighth in a Bangor contest over an extended 2m3f on handicap debut last month. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 574778-

Awaywiththeblues³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: C Gethings| T: R Stephens| OR: 87

40/1

Maiden after seven starts and beaten 74L in a novices' handicap over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (good-to-soft) early last month. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: U800/70-

Boutan¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P J Brennan| T: G Harris| OR: 83

11/2

Four time winner on the Flat but yet to win in 17 starts over hurdles. Decent fourth over C&D on good ground last time out however and is of interest off a low weight.

Form: 3U4064-

Midnight Gem¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: J J Burke| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 78| D

20/1

Sole success in 34 starts came at Huntingdon (good) in November 2016. Well beaten at Taunton (3m, good) last month on return from a break. Well handicapped on old form racing from 1lb out of the weights.

Form: 954457-

Non-Runners

Brunel Woods²⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: David Dennis J: David Bass

Forecasts

Boutan (11/2), Goldrapper (6/1), Codeshare (7/1), Cottonvale (8/1), Hear The Chimes (17/2), Sinakar (9/1), Knight Commander (10/1), Spiritual Man (12/1), Brunel Woods (14/1), Shivermetimbers (18/1), Midnight Gem (20/1), All Good Things (20/1), Mr Fenton (22/1), Market Road (25/1), Kingston (25/1), Royale Jonquille (33/1), Diamond Rose (40/1), Awaywiththeblues (40/1)

SPIRITUAL MAN has a top jockey booked for his return to hurdles and he is taken to register a victory in this opening handicap contest. The selection hails from a decent yard and he can get the better of Boutan who ran well when fourth here last time out. Codeshare remains open to improvement and he can take third on handicap debut.